Sheep (Ovis aries) is one of the most important and widely distributed domestic species in the world, having as many as 11,000 years of history alongside humans. Sheep are an important part of global production and have a vast effect on our economy and culture – both today, but also in the past. In Estonia – the main study region for the MSCA project OVinE – past sheep herding practices have had a major impact on local animal husbandry. According to archaeological and historical evidence, sheep in that region have been utilised mainly for wool and meat for the last 3000 years, at least since the Late Bronze Age. Most of the information regarding meat consumption, bone craft and herd structure has come from the faunal assemblages, while wool production has mostly been reflected through archaeological textile finds. Additionally, ancient DNA studies have revealed the continuity of the maternal lineages over millennia, as presented in the previous works by Dr. Rannamäe.
Today, sheep husbandry in Estonia is not as relevant as within the global context, and is still recovering from a significant decline that occurred in the 20th century. Nevertheless, despite the rapid decrease in the number of sheep and extensive crossbreeding during the Soviet era, the aboriginal sheep in Estonia – now named the Kihnu native sheep breed – has persevered. Although vital to diversity and numbers, the acknowledgement of the native breed was under question for a long time, and although now officially approved, an “endangered” status has still not been granted. As rare and native breeds represent an irreplaceable resource for genetic diversity (prolificacy, resistance to parasites and diseases), are ecologically efficient (environmentally friendly and with an important role in sustainable animal farming), and embody an invaluable socio-cultural value (traditional keeping and heritage), they make an important study object for geneticists, historians/archaeologists and modern day craftsmen.
In general, northern Europe native sheep breeds are quite well preserved and very much valued. Living under harsh environmental conditions for centuries have made them well adapted, while peripheral locations have kept them from extensive crossbreeding. These aspects have made them valuable for modern day husbandry strategies, breed improvement, and preservation of genetic and phenotypic diversity. Those populations are collectively called the northern European short-tailed breeds – universally a unique group. The Kihnu native sheep are often believed to be part of that group, but still without full agreement about the membership.
To clarify the history, development and affinities of sheep populations in north-eastern Europe, with a focus on Estonia and the Kihnu native sheep, project OVinE was implemented. Two broad topics that Dr. Rannamäe addressed, were:
1) How have the sheep populations in Estonia and the surrounding region of north-eastern Europe developed over the last 3000 years (from the time sheep husbandry became one of the dominant livestock husbandries in the region until the present day)?
2) What are the affinities between the ancient (archaeological/historical) and extant (Kihnu native sheep) populations, that is, to what extent have the ancient lineages been preserved in modern sheep; and how do the Estonian sheep compare to other northern European native breeds?
To fulfill those aims, Dr. Rannamäe had three methodological approaches:
a) Genetics (whole genome analyses);
b) Morphometrics (analyses on the size and shape of sheep based on their skeletal elements);
c) Native sheep husbandry (appearance of the animals, traditional animal keeping, historical and ethnographic sources).
